I laugh out loud, and it feels so damn good. “It’s yours. You earned it.”
She gives me a wary but amused look. “You won’t let me forget that, will you?”
“Never.” The sound of her laugh warms me through.
“Alright then,” she says with a smile. “Then I have something to show you.”
“Alright?”
“You’ll have to let me go.” When I don’t, she reaches her face to mine and kisses my cheek. “You’ll have to eventually anyway. I need to do things like shave my legs and use the facilities.”
I sigh dramatically. “Fine, then. But you’d better come right back.”
“I will, promise.”
I let her go and watch as she pushes herself out of the bed. I have no idea what she’s going to show me.
Walking across the room, she lifts the bag that contained the knife she brought to the Baths. She slides her hand in and pulls out a velvet bag.
My pulse races. I stop breathing for a few seconds, before I shake my head. It can’t be…
“What did you do?” I whisper, shaking my head. “Nicolette…”
“You said you didn’t want to give them the real talisman.” A faint flush of pink colors her cheeks as she puts her hand in the bag. “You didn’t.”
Nicolette removes her hand, revealing the talisman. I blink, clearing my vision as if I’ve conjured it.
It’s still there.
I stare at the quartz sphinx in the palm of her hand. “What—How did you do that?” I hold out my hand.
“I wanted to surprise you,” she says sheepishly. “I took the real one from Lyon. Swapped it. And when you pulled the alarm, I snagged the replica back and put both in the bag. Yesterday, we gave up the dupe. Whoever took Lyam has the false talisman, and eventually, when they find out, the Lyon family will be afterthem.”
The light hits the gems on its sides. I stare in disbelief at the artifact.
The Emperor Napoleon believed it would give him good luck.
What do I have to lose?
I hold it and stare. I lick my lips. I fervently wish that Nicolette will stay. I want her forever.
I look in her eyes. “You gave me the talisman.”
She shrugs. “You gave me two million dollars.”
I laugh and shake my head. “That was dangerous, and foolish, and brilliant.Mon Dieu.Nicolette.” I swallow. “Marry me.”
The way her eyes dance at me, I wonder if she thinks I’m joking. “You asked me once before. You were only teasing then.”
“Was I?”
“Fabien…” Her voice grows soft as she looks at me. “I…” When she bites her lip, I decide it’s time to tell her.
“I need to tell you one more thing before you answer me. Just one more.”
“Will it impact my decision?”
“I hope so.”
